Tubes with Anticoagulants
~Light Blue
~Green (light and dark)
~Pink
~Lavender
~Royal Blue with Lavender
~Gray
PLASMAAAA
Plasma
Unclotted blood. contains clotting factors
Tubes without anticoagulants
~Clear - discard tube
~Red - glass
~Red - plastic (will have clot activator)
~Tiger Top / Gold Top / Marble Top
~Royal blue with red stripe
SERUMM
Serum
Allowed to clot. no more clotting factors.
Order of draw
~Blood Culture Bottles (Broth)
~Discard tube (clear or red glass)
~Light blue Top
~Royal Blue with Red Stripe
~Red Top
~Gold / Tiger / Marble Top
~Light Green Top
~Dark Green Top
~Pink Top
~Lavender Top
~Royal Blue with Purple Stripe
~Gray Top
Blood Culture (Broth)
~Additive: Nutrient Broth
~Lab: Microbiology
~Aerobic
~Anaerobic
Clear Top Tube
Discard
Light Blue Top Tube
~Additive: Sodium Citrate - anticoagulant
~Yields: Plasma
~Lab: Cooagulation
~Filled Completely
~Invert 3-4 Times
Common tests
~PT
~PTT
~aPTT
Red Top Tube
Additive:
~None - glass
~Clot Activator - plastic
Yields: Serum
Lab: Chemistry
~No inversion
Common Tests:
~Discard
~ETOH
~Serum pregnancy
Tiger Top / Marble Top / Speckled Top / Gold Top
Additive:
~Silica - clot activator
~Thixotropic Gel (serum separator)
Yields: Serum
Lab: Chemistry
AKA: SST
Inversion: 8 times
Common Tests
~Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
~Complete / Comprehensive Metabolic Panel / Profile (CMP)
~Serum Pregnancy
~Lipids and Cholesterol
Light Green Top Tube
Additive
~Lithium Heparin - anticoagulant
~Thixotropic Gel - plasma separator
Yields: Plasma
Lab: Chemistry
AKA: PST
Inversion: 8x
Common Tests
~STAT Electrolytes - LYTES
~hCG
~hCG qualitative
~hCG quantitative
Dark Green Top Tube
Additive
~Sodium Heparin - anticoagulant
~inhibits thrombin
Yields: Plasma
Lab: Chemistry
Inversion: 8x
Common test
~Ammonia - ON ICE
Pink Top Tube
Additive:
~Potassium EDTA
Yields: Plasma
Lab: Blood Bank
Full: 2/3 or more
Inversion: 8x
Common Tests
~Type and Screen Ration (TSR) - blood type
~Cross Match - for transfusions
Lavender Top Tube
Additive: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA)
Yields: Plasma
Lab: Hematology
Full: 2/3 or more
Inversion: 8x
Common Tests:
~Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
~Sickle Cell
~Complete Blood Count (CBC) - not on hemolyzed samples - never centrifuged
~Hematocrit
~Hemoglobin
~Platelets
~A1C - glucose/prediabetic
Gray Top Tube
Additives:
~Sodium Flouride
~Antiglycolytic Agent (glucose preservative)
~Potassium Oxalate - anticoagulant
Yields: Plasma
Lab: Chemistry
Inversion: 8x
OGTT - Old Gray Top Tube - Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Common Tests
~OGTT - gestational diabetes - hour + 1
~Lactic Acid - no tourniquet
~ETOH - dont clean site with alcoholo
Royal Blue Top Tube with Red Stripe
Additive:
~None
Yields: Serum
Lab: Toxicology
Inversion: 8x
Common Tests:
~Lead (Pb) Poisoning
~Heavy Metal Toxicology
